06/07/2016 07:35AM
Goatroti,
Normally, I'd say better to be lucky than an ahole and leave it at that. But I was curious so I read all your previous posts on this site. No trolling, or other blind insults and you seem to be mildly helpful and involved so I will give you the benefit of the doubt. You did raise some good points - albeit poorly, and they are worth clarifying because the whole reason we use a site like this is to share information and experiences with others.
You made a number of assumptions, however, and it is difficult not take offense. In your shoes, I would have asked a couple of clarifying questions first, but you decided not to. So my response might be a little barbed. But I'll try to address each of your issues. A little because I feel the need to defend myself, but also because I don't want others reading the report and response to be mislead - even if it is the case that I was ill-prepared. The reason I choose to publish this in part so others could learn from my experiences, both good and bad.
So, working backwards, fishing. Yes, it is fishing focused. The whole reason I published this report was because of the lack of fishing information I found when I was preparing for the trip. That was the whole point. All of it. And you yourself proclaimed you're not much of a fisherman, so I can understand why you don't think some things like a map warrant so much attention. Fishing without a lake map is like taking a trip without a map. No serious angler wants to be blind like no competent paddler would. And fishing for muskies is a different game than any other species, no matter where you are. For those who take fishing focused trips, my intended audience, this is important topic.
Vehicle - This one was a surprise. Reading other trip reports, I learned how others had parked at the campground with a permit. Thus informed, I called the campgrounds office and specifically asked about the parking situation, giving them my dates and talking about our plans. I was told everything would be okay and being an ill-prepared idiot, believed them. But even today, looking back I feel pretty good that I checked the parking box going in. Getting to the campground and finding it unstaffed when I was told it would be was something I doubt anyone can plan for. Maybe without a place to park, others would have turned around and left after 2 days of driving and months of planning. But we wanted to take our trip. So we did the what we thought was best in that case. I think we handled it as well as one could and think most would do something similar. We felt the reward was worth the risk, but that is a decision everyone has to make for themselves.
Moose crushing us in our tent - Think you just have to roll the dice on that one.
200mph shear winds - Not sure what one can do about that one either. We don't pitch our tents anywhere near dead trees, which mitigates some, but on a fundamental level you don't take these trips if you aren't willing to live with some risk. Maybe it is offhand, but if you at least have some basic woodcraft knowledge and skills(and duct tape), you can handle most issues. And the ones you can't probably can't by anyone. Our backup saw is kept in the tent should we get pinned, as well as our first aide kit but one can only do so much. And the straight line winds that have gone through the parks in the past are closer to 70 or 80hpm. Still dangerous, but its not a hurricane.
Large predators - This point was the one I thought needed clarifying the most. The reason I included what I did was solely to make the point that you more than likely not going to find a hanging tree if you visit this park. And I know a lot of people do prefer to hang their food, and didn't want anyone to be surprised by that when they arrived. Not everyone reads all the trip reports, analyzes backgrounds of pictures or watches youtube videos to get a better feel for what environment they are entering. I also think there is a chance you saw garbage bag and nothing else because its mentioned at the end. And I have to believe by that point you had made up your mind about this report. As I stated earlier, I wrote this with a fishing focus. I didn't want to have to tell people not to keep toothpaste or chapstick in their tent. There are more than enough information out there about that stuff without me needing to include it. Especially since as others had pointed out, nicely I might add, that it was long enough. So yes our food is in a garbage bag. But that is after it has all been taken out of its original containers and re-packaged pretrip so that the garbage bag, in this case, is just the last layer. That I could have been more clear about. Food items are individually vacuum sealed, then put in a baggie, then a meal specific sealed bag, those into garbage bag1 tied off twice, and that is placed into pack1 which we carry. At night, that is all put into pack2(extra waterproofing), finally garbage bag2, which is actually an industrial bag which is also tied off twice. The food is then placed a ways away from camp into the woods away from the shoreline. Something like cups or pots are stacked on top so we know if anything is happening. If a bear is going to eat my food, at the least I'd like to get a picture out of it. In 25+yrs of this, we have never had a bear, squirrel or mouse problem. Should that happen, worse case, we are only 2 days of travel from food with plenty of clean water and we would have all our cooking and fishing gear. Maybe the report seemed like I handled these things in an offhand manner, but one can only write so much.
Cold rainy days - I mentioned that we packed warm clothing not knowing what the weather would be like. So I don't get this one. The sleeping bag I use got me through a trip where the high was -4F. We also had raingear, tarp and tent among other things to keep us dry. Sure were lucky we didn't have to use them, but we would have been fine.
Maps - These were what I considered one of the weakest part of our trip. And its worth noting we did lose a set, but thats why you bring extra. But I suspect you might be basing this off of the one map I put in the report as what we used to navigate. And that would be an incorrect assumption. That was only added because when I finished writing, I realized how much more helpful it would be to have a map. I mean, sideways 'S' shaped lake? No one is going to no where that is if I don't point it out. So I did. And maybe its luck, but we didn't get lost once and always knew where we were, which I think should be evidence enough. That is the only purpose of a map. Maybe what we bring is not enough for others, but thats knowing what you need to navigate safely and everyone is at their own level.
Putting everything away at night - We did this. No where does it say otherwise so I'm not sure where you're coming from on this. Maybe it was the one time when we heard a storm coming and went out and double checked to make sure camp was secure, but I'd call that a good habit. I even think the pictures with the canoe on land show it tied down. Which we did first thing every time we brought it out.
Clean camp - Same as above, where is this coming from? I can understand the source of the concerns about the food, vehicle, or spot but these claims are baseless. Our camps are immaculate. You won't find a even find a bread tie. Every snipit of fishing line cut is religiously packed out. There is nothing that is left out that hasn't been cleaned. All wash water and residue is dumped or buried a good walk into the woods. Perhaps you read that the first night we came into a campsite that already had a lot of garbage, and incorrectly thought that was ours. We discussed cleaning that camp up, as is our practice, but because it was already late and dark we choose not to. It was the first day and taking all that garbage into the park with us would have been a stupid thing to do. If we even had the room, which we didn't. On the way out however, we picked up a full bag worth of other's peoples crap from the portages and campsites as is tradition. The world would be a cleaner place if more people practiced our habits.
Garbage bag - see large predators.
Sat phone/spot - No trip is ever going to be bulletproof, and all have some risk in them. Thats something I, and others I travel with understand and accept. Nonetheless, we did consider taking a spot and I discussed that. Were we slightly less safe? Probably. But given our circumstances thats how it worked out. If I was planning a trip again and knew it was just 2 people, I'd strongly consider taking one. But I don't think not having one is worth not taking the trip if you feel comfortable enough. That doesn't mean its something I'd recommend to others, but I don't think its worth getting your feathers all ruffled up about either. Each person needs to decide where their own balance of risk lies.
Offhand manner of essentials - See fishing. What the report was focused about.
Lack of planning - Something that can't be proven either way, especially through a written report. But very few trips were better prepared whether you believe me or not. There is a reason we got lucky so many times, its not just the island calling. We know things. And besides, who writes about the all the things that go right? I don't. Just the one of two that could have gone better in the hopes that others are able to avoid them.
If you have any other concerns that I didn't address, say so - courteously please - and I'll do my best. I'm not here to mislead about the potential dangers of wilderness travels.
I wish you luck in your future travels.
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